The Venice Art Center Special Workshop Classes

Special Workshops

You may sign up for classes right through this page using PayPal, or click the
button for a printable registration form.

#801 Painting on Silk Workshop
Instructor: Jamie Kirkell

Painting on silk is a wonderful way to explore color. In this class you will (1) create your own painted silk scarves, (2) have a
basic introduction to textile design and color for silk painting (3) learn how to design on silk, and (4) finish two scarves. The
class is designed for first timers as well as artists interested in learning a new art form. Instruction will be step-by-step and
geared to the level of the student. Classes will be taught in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. You will come away with hand
painted scarves that you will enjoy wearing for many years. You can sign up for 1 or 2 days. Classes meet from 9:00am to
4:30pm both days. Materials fee is $75.00 includes silk kit, frame and two silks for painting.

Biography: Kirkell’s large silk floral paintings bring a freshness and lightness to the exploration of both the orchid and the iris.
His paintings are a direct result of his time spent in Java, Indonesia where he studied batik and textile design under Master
Batik Artist, Bambang Oetoro at the Batik Research Institute of Indonesia. While in the United States Peace Corps, he spent
time in the Philippines and Southeast Asia furthering his interest in orchid collecting and floral design. Kirkell’s studies have
also taken him to Ohio State University and The Art Students League in New York.
Kirkell’s works embody the spirit of botanical art, showing thecomplete and accurate depiction of flower, leaf and stem. His
technique and interpretive modes reflect the integration of classicaland modern influences, characteristic in contemporary
botanical painting.
Jamie Kirkell has exhibited his works across the US, including galleries and botanic gardens in New York City, San Diego,
Miami and Cleveland. Internationally his works have been exhibited in Israel and Aruba. Kirkell’s pieces are also in collections
at the Chrysler Building in New York, the Aish HatorahLibrary in Jerusalem, Devi Sri Hotels in Aruba and the Turnberry
Isle Resort in Miami.

Dates: Two-day workshop, Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm
#801A: January 20 & 21
Fee: $225/Members $275/Nonmembers
(A $75 material fee is paid directly to the instructor.)

#802 Miniature Sculpture & Jewelry Pendant Direct Wax Sculpture and Bronze Casting
Instructor: Sean Colson

Learn direct wax sculpting to create your original design with the Lost-Wax, Shellspen Ceramic process. In this class, you
will become knowledgeable in direct wax jewelry pendant sculpting, bronze patina, and highlight polishing. With time,
education, and experience you will progress from simple designs to complex works.
You are invited to attend Sean’s Jewelry Pendant Bronze Casting class. Sean will share his years of professional experience
with you on techniques, tips, and styles of bronze casting so you can create your own unique bronze jewelry pendant.
You will work hands-on in this two-day class of two-hours each day. You will learn how to sculpt your own original direct
wax pendant that will be cast in bronze. You will receive a wax pattern pendant, which you can sculpt up to a 2½”
square by 1/8” to ¼” thick. After this process the waxes are taken to the Art Casting Studio where we gate and sprue the
waxes, coat with the Shellspen Ceramic Shell process, melt the wax out (dewax) of the ceramic shells, and pour molten
bronze into the pendants. The pieces are then devested (ceramic shell mold removed), the feeding gates removed,
ground off and finished, and sandblasted. The finished bronze jewelry pendants are then returned to the class
where you will learn about and apply the bronze patina, creating a unique finish from browns and greens, and/or buffed
lightly on a buffing wheel to give a gold highlight to the piece.
Materials and bronze costs are included. There will be an extra charge if the casting is larger than 2½” square by 1/8”
to ¼” thick.

Biography: Sean has been a sculptor since the mid 1960’s, and began bronze casting with his father in 1974 at Colson
School of Art, the first art casting sculpture foundry in Sarasota. Sean has run Shellspen Int. Inc, a sculpture supply
business for artists casting bronze sculpture, and has taught bronze casting since 1979. Sean’s experience in bronze
casting spans 36 years. Visit Sean’s website, www.shellspen.com, for more information.

Dates: Two-day workshop, 9:30am-12:30pm
# 802A: November 5 & 26
# 802B: January 28 & February 18
Fee: $360/Members $435/Nonmembers

#803 What if? Explore, Discover, and Play with Mixed Media.
Create New Challenges in Experimental and Collage.
Instructor: Mary Alice Braukman

“What If? Explore, Discover, and PlayWith Various Media. Creating New Challenges in Experimental and Collage”
This is a 4 to 5 day workshop and class size should not exceed20 students of intermediate to advanced levels. Mary’s workshops
are an adventure in risk-taking and pushing the medium asfar as it will go. One goal of this workshop is to explore new ideas
in mixed water media and collage, and to show visual growth inyour art through self expression. Each painter will be encouraged
to find his or her unique, personal direction whether working abstractly or representational. We will explore layering of experimental
mediums, photo transfers, and collage in depth, striving for results that go beyond obvious techniques and leave people
wondering how you created such a gem. Everyone will benefit from the sharing of ideas and critiques. A painter’s work IS their
journal. My workshops are a “what if.” You will be working on canvas as well as paper (illustration boards and watercolor boards)
and I always like to introduce the recycling of unresolved paintings. This will be the your choice if you wish to use all three. The
canvas I recommend: small pre-stretched 1 1/2” to 2” depth in sizes no larger than 12” X 12”. They may not all be square. The
collage & design will wrap around the canvas sides forming a finished (for hanging) piece. These are supplied and will be at your
worktable. We will work with various mediums and gels creating a textural base. These gels and mediums will offer different levels
of transparency and matte finishes. Experimentation is recommended. They may be used to build texture, add interest to your
paintings, and work as a glue agent for collage. Because there are so many mediums, an artist first needs to determine which
characteristics they wish to achieve. Examples of all will be shown. The various textural bases are exciting but you must keep
in mind the elements and principles of design as a building block. Collage is so beneficial in developing your strong design principles.
Also an understanding of color for your collage is beneficial. And analogous color range and then a hit of contrast will just
bring your painting to a new level: contrast in complements, of warm and cool, light and dark. There will be individual critiques
daily as needed and always a class critique at the end of the week. One goal is to take your work to the next exciting level.
Biography: A PAINTER’S WORK IS HIS DIARY…JOURNEY Artist Mary Alice Braukman, a native of Florida, now divides her
time between her homes in Pisgah Forest, NC., and St. Petersburg, FL.
Mary Alice cannot begin to remember when she did not paint. She believes a painter’s work is their diary or a record of their
life’s journey. “As a water media artist, my life experiences become filtered in my eye, mind, and heart. They are then transformed
into my paintings…of joy and passion and adventure and reflection.”
My paintings contain a myriad of techniques – a pour of colors, a layer of water media in brilliant colors, experiments with collage or
assemblage. “I am not afraid of color or texture. I want the viewer to crawl into my work and walk through each step of motion or
intensity or serenity.’
“It is the act of painting that is important to me. By watching the design developing, I begin to create a more personal statement. It
is intuitive and records my personal experiences—my journey.”

Dates: Five-day workshop, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm
# 803A: March 5-9
Fee: $395/Members $450/Nonmembers

#804 Exploring and Exciting Color With Limited Palettes
Instructor: Pat Weaver

Pat will teach you how to paint with no more than 5 colors in any painting, how to mix beautiful grays to enhance your
paintings. A simplified approach to drawing, using a template for design and composition, teaching the importance of
analogous painting, establishing the temperature of a painting before you paint the subject.
Any subject may be painted in this workshop. Pat encourages you to try different subject matter: landscapes, animals,
people, florals, marine scenes, beach scenes, etc. Please bring plenty of reference material. A different subject
will be demonstrated each morning, different surfaces such as yupo, aquaboard, watercolor canvas, watercolor paper.

Biography: Pat Weaver is an accomplished watercolor artist whose work consistently receives high praise whether
teaching painting workshops across the country or completing commissions for fine art pet portraits of dogs, cats and
other animals.
Pat is a Signature Member, Life Member, and Past President of the Florida Watercolor Society. She is also a Signature
Member of the Georgia Watercolor Society as well as an associate member of the Society of Animal Artists, New York, NY.
Most recently, Pat was chosen for the Featured Artist article and cover of New Barker Magazine, September issue. Her
current exhibitions include the 47th Annual Exhibition of Society of Animal Artists, Wilderness Experience in Littleton,
Colorado (October - February 2008) and the Small Works, Big Impressions - Society of Animal Artist, Wilderness Experience,
Littleton, Colorado (November - February 2008). Tampa Bay Magazine chose to feature Pat and her art in
their January 2007 issue. Pat's art education is through independent study supplemented by art workshops with Claude
Croney, Daniel Green, Ted Goerschener, Marilyn Simandle, Robert Bateman, John Seerey-Lester, Edgar Whitney, and
Betty Lou Schlem.
Pat is an international watercolor instructor, traveling throughout the United States, Italy, France, Mexico, the Bahamas,
St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands teaching workshops. She has a direct, spontaneous approach to painting
with watercolor. Her watercolor workshops are very popular and the students are always eager to have her back.

Dates: Five-day workshop, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm
#804A: February 6-10
Fee: $395/Members $450/Nonmembers

#805 Watercolor Rhythms with Faces and Figures
Instructor: Janet Rogers, AWS

This dynamic workshop is designed to enable participants of all levels to quickly gain confidence in approaching the portrait and figure
in a more spontaneous, intuitive and expressive way. Demonstrations, class instruction, individual assistance, “show and tell”, and a
series of “fun” exercises, (which will include drawing, color and paint application) will weave into class painting time. Special emphasis will
be on achieving a fresh look of translucent flesh tones in the portrait with unique color changes, which will add to the excitement of capturing
the essence of the subject. Many “features” will be covered, including an approach to children’s portraits. Students will have an
opportunity to work from their photographs or Janet’s and also from the live model. Janet will also focus on achieving quick gesture
paintings from photos and the model – having fun with letting the watercolor form the gestures in a fun and fluid manner.
Our goals will be to “see” in new ways -- bringing “life” and interpretation to the portrait and figure, and to discover intuitive color and design.

Biography: A signature member of American Watercolor Society, Janet Rogers is an award-winning artist for both her floral and portrait
paintings. Janet is also a signature member of Florida Watercolor Society, and South Carolina Watercolor Society. She is also a
popular instructor and has taught extensively throughout the United States and also in Europe. Janet has had four DVD’s produced by
Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Boone, NC – “Expressive Watercolor Portraits," “Expressive Watercolor Florals”, “Watercolor Rhythms – With
Figures” and “Expressing the Bouquet in Watercolor”. She has also been featured in the book “The One-Hour Watercolorist” by Patrick
Seslar (North Light). The July/August 2009 issue of American Artist Magazine featured Janet in an article on her painting process titled
“3 Exercises & 20 Steps to Painting Rhythmic Figures in Watercolor.”

Artist Statement:
“I love the qualities of watercolor – its fluid nature. To me, the interaction of artist with the medium is like a
dance – full of motion, feeling and expression. I love to watch the painting develop and to discover new color
and composition. As a teacher, I would like to enable students to find theirconnections with watercolor in new and expressive ways.”

Dates: Four-day workshop, Monday-Thursday, 9:30am-3:30pm
#805A: January 23-26
Fee: $345/Members $395/Nonmembers

#806 Expressive Flowers in Watercolor
Instructor: Janet Rogers

Fresh flowers in the studio will be the inspiration for the beginning of this workshop. Janet will demonstrate various “fun” exercises geared
to interpret flowers in a loose and expressive manner. Discovering the unique “nature” of individual flowers and “finding” new colors will
be highlighted. Demonstrations and individual help will weave throughout these three days, with an emphasis on letting the medium
of watercolor lead the students to new adventures in watercolor. Some goals include “keeping the whites”, avoiding “mud”, intuitive
color and composition. We will also cover “finding flowers” in landscape.

Dates: Two-day workshop, Friday & Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm
#806A: January 27 & 28
Fee: $175/Members $225/Nonmembers

#807 Zen Painting
Instructor: Frederica Marshall

Learn Zenga brush strokes which can be used in all types of media. This international award winning artist will teach traditional
and modern Asian brush painting. This three-day workshop will be based on Asian brush painting
for all mediums. We will explore the use of brush strokes, brush color loading and modern experimental techniques of painters.
These techniques are also very useful when glazing pottery. There will be some supplies provided, but you should refer to
the supply list.
The cost of the class includes an artist quality Sumi-e brush. Additional materials and books may be purchased from the instructor
to take home.

Biography: Frederica Marshall lived and studied Sumi-e painting, pottery and textile dying in Japan for 28 years. She is an
International and National award winning master Sumi-e artist and has been teaching painting for a total for 33 years at such
schools as Ringling College and LA Metro College. She has a BFA in painting and a MA in Art education. She has also been
Artist in Residence in schools for Sarasota Arts council for 9 years. She recently won an honorable mention in 2009 at the
International Sumi-e exhibition in Tokyo Japan. Frederica teaches at her art school in Deer Isle, Maine, the gulf of Florida
and in China.

Dates: Three-day workshop, Thursday-Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm
#807A: March 1, 2 & 3
Fee: $280/Members $330/Nonmembers